Gang-plow.



W. L. BATRIGHT & A. E. MURPHY.

GANG PLOW.

APPLwATloN FILED Mmm. ma.

1,054,499@ Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

hierrr,

WILLIAM L. IBOATRIGHT, 0F GLENDALE, AND ARTHUR E. MURPHY, 0F COLUMBIA,

. TENNESSEE.

GANG-PLOW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

Application ined Aprn so, 1912. serial No, 694,056.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, ,Vl/nimmt li. loivra citizen oit' the lluited States, and a resident of Glendale, county of Maury, and State of Tennessee, and Au'rnun E. Munn-tv, a` citizen of the United States, and

a resident of Columljiia, county of Maury,

and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gang- Plows, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention-is an improvement in gang plows, and has for its object, the provision of means for supporting a gang of plows in sach manner that the plows will be yieldingly held spaced apart laterally` and wherein the plows may'yield upwardly and may beset to cut at varying depths.

A further object is to provide a partienlar form of plow arranged to thoroughly stir and loosen the soil to a considerable depth, without turning the same.

, the axle.

ln the drawings: Figure l, is a plan view .of the improvement.; and, Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

In the present embodiment of the invention, a substantially rectangular open frame 1 is provided, composed of angle material, having one of its` angular portions horizontal, and the other vertical, the vertical portion being at the outer side of the horizontal portion. i An axle Q journaled transversely of the frame at the rear thereof, in bearings 3, on the frame, and the ends orI spindles 4l of the axle are cranked or offset laterally from it lever 5 is secured rigidly to the axle at its center, and a wheel G is jonrnaled oneach spindle or end of the axle. A tongue or draft plate T is secured to the frame, longitudinallyr thereof, and at the center, by means of bolts or rivets 8, and a seat t) is connected to the rear of the-frame by a spring plate 10.

A toothed sector 11 is secured to the draft plate adjacent to the axle and the lever is provided with the usual latch mechanism 12, coperating with the sector, for holding the lever in adjusted position. lVhen the axle is oscillated by the lever, the frame will he raised. or lowered.

The draft plate T extends beyond the front of the frame, and a truck is arranged at the front end of the said plate. The truck comprises an axle 13, havvtg at each end a wheel 1+i, and a yoke comprising a body 15 and arms 1t', is .connected to the axle at its center.

The arms 16 of the yoke extend on opposite sides of the axle, and a bolt 1T is passed through the arms and the axle. 'lhe body 15 of the yoke is provided with a vertical pin 18, and a plate 1t) secured at one end to the extended end of the draft plate, by bolts 20, is provided at the other end with an opening for receiving the pin.

A. yoke has a bearing in its bodv 21 for receiving the pin, and the arms 22 of the yoke extend forwardly, and receive between them the rear end of a tongue 23. `A bolt 24 ispassed through the arms -and the tongue, and. a pin is passed through the body and the pin to hold t-he yoke in place, below plate 1S).

The plate 19 is provided with a bearing lug 26 spaced below the plate and engaging the pin below the yoke, the lug 2G being integral with the plate. A plate 'QT is arranged transversely of the. frame, below the front member thereof, and the said plate is connected to the iframe by a plurality of bars Q8.

The flange 2S is secured to the horizontal portion of the front frame member, by rivets 230, and the plows are connected to the flange Qt). Each of the said plows is connected lo a beam 31, provided at its front end with a T-clevis 32, the plow 33 being connected to the rear end Iof the beam.

Each of the elevises is double, that is having one member yon each side of the beam, anda yoke is provided for connecting each beam to the flange 29. Each yoke co prises a body 311, pivoted to the clevis mem ers by a bolt 35, and arms 36 embracing the flange 2), and held to the flange by a bolt 37.

1n the present instance four plows are provided, and the beams are of such length that the plows are near the rear of the frame. Plates 38 are secured to the `frame at each side thereof, adjacent to the plpws, and each plate is longitudinally slotted, as shown at 39. A shaft L10 is arranged transversely of the plates in the slot, and an arm 41 is secured to each plow belowthe beam and approximately parallel therewith, each arm extending forwardly below the shaft 40. 'lhe shaft is thus held between the beams of the plows and the arms 41. The plows may be disengaged from the shaft, by

releasing the clevis from the yokes at the front, and. moving said plows rearwardly, so thatl the shaft lltlwill slip out from be tween the beams and the arms 4:1.

Coil springs 42 encircle the Shaft between the adjacent plows, and a spring l5-l is seated in the slot ot each plate, between the shaft and the upper end of the slot.. A spring lll is also providedfor the lever 5, the said spring having one end connected to a lug- 4G at the lower end ot the lever and the other end to a pin 47 on ithe dratt plate.

The springs 42 hold the plows in spaced relation, but permit them to yieldv laterally, to avoid obstruction, and the springs 43 normally press the plowsv downward, holding them at the proper depth, while permitting them to yield upwardly.

The nearer the spindles 3 are to the saine horizontal plane with the axle, the nearer the frame to thel ground, and the deeper the vcut of the plows. When the said spin-y dies are in vertical alinement with the axle,

f the trame is in its highestposition, and the plows are raised clear oli the ground.

The adjustment may be' made from the seat, and the pitch of the )lows may be varied by means ot the clevis at the. :iront in the usual manner. `When the point ot' the plow is elevated by raising the clevis the tendency of the plow is to out shallow, while when the point is lowered, the plow will tend to cut deep. y

The extended end of the draft plate braced against plate 27, by means of a brace 48. The front truck supports the front ot the frame, and swings with the tongue, on account ofthe pin Q5 which connects the body 21Qof the yoke to the pin.

The plows are not turning plows, but in the nature of subsoiling plows, breaking up and loosening the soil, withoutturning it over. The machine is tlrst drawn over the ground in one direction, with the plows at a depth of, say 8 or l0 inches. The ground is then plowed in a direction at ri ght. angles to the rst, at. a depth ot' l2 to le inches, i

It the ground is not yet in satisfactory shape, the soil may be again worked in the saine direction as at tirst. Rolling colters will be placed in front of each plow in order that grass and trash may be out to prevent choking of the plows, and the machine may be drawn by horses or by power.

The machine is intendedv especially tor preparing the ground tor a second crop,

after harvesting a small grain crop, as for' instance, wheat', barley, or rye. `Were turning plow-used for this, purpose, the damp under soil would be lifted over the dry, and trash, such as weeds and. straw stubble and the like wouldbe turned under. The soil on top would dry out., and the entire cultivated dept-h ot ground would be against the arm lll.

dry and lifeless. With the improved plow, the moist under soil is thoroughly stirred and loosened, and the dry upper soil is mulched in a manner tobest conserve the moisture and prevent its evaporation.

Each ot the plows 33 is in the torni ot a plate-having its wide dimensions parallel with the beam, and having at its upper end a forwardly extending lug t9 Yfor connection to the beam. rit its lower en'd the plate has a forwardly 'extending point 50', and rearwardly extending heel 5l, of less length than the point.

lThe lug 49 is riveted or bolted to the beam, and it will be evident that the ployY will not turnv the soil, since no share is provided. The plows are'blades arranged with their width parallel to the direction ot motion, and will cut the soil in front and on top, and will also loosen 'and slightly litt the under port-ion.

The lower end ot the plate is straight. as shown, and the upper edges ot the point and heel incline upwardly toward their eonnee tion with the body ot the platewhich is the shank ot the plow. 'lhe upper edge ot the point and the front edge of the shank may be sharpened to torno a ciitting edge.

It. will be understood that the trame may be braced suitably, the said bracing being omitted for the salte rot clearness. lt will be noted that the connection of the beams with the trame, permits each plow and beam to be separated :trom the main trainel without serious damage, in case the plow should meet an obstruction. rllhe bolt or pin 37 is ot wood,-and oi suiiicient strength to hold the beam in position under ordinary circumstances, lVlien, however, the plow `meets with an obstruction ot sufficient iinmobilit-y to damage the mechanism, the pin cr bolt 3T will break, and the beam will be pulled away backward without inf ury.

lt will be understood kthat the spring merely encircles the shejt e0 between the plows and acts to holdjyhe plows in spaced relation. llhe springs bear above 'the axle against the plow beams and below 'the arle The springs i3 are mounted in any suitable manner between shaft 40 and the upper end of the slot d8. The plows are not rigidly secured to the shaft 40, the said shaft being held between the beam and the arm 4-1. That is, therel is a slidalole connection between each 'blow and the shaft. b a

The depth of the cut ot the plowsgnay be varied by swinging the axle. It will be evident that the rear end of the traine may be raised or lowered with respect to the ground in this manner. We clairnz- A gang 'plow comprising a trame, an axle journaled transversely ot the rear or iis lili@ the frame and having each of its ends cranked, a Wheel on each crank, means for oscillating the axle, means for holding the axle in adjusted position, d 'aftmechanism connected with the front of the frame, a pluv rality of plow beams, each being; pirotall)1 connected at its front end to the front ot' the frame, a plow at the rear end of each beam, a Shaft in front ot' the plows, a. plate secured to the frame ateach end of the sha't't and having a longitudinal slot for the shaft, an arm connected to each plo and extending forwardly below the shaft, said arm being` spaced from the beam a distance corresponding to the diameter of the shaft, a spring between the shaft and the upper end of the slot of each plate, and a spring on the shaft between each adjacent pair ot' plows.

2. A gang plow comprising a wheel supported frame, draft mechanism connected with the frame, a plurality ot plow beams, each being pivotally connected at its front end to the front of the trame, a plow at the rear end of each beam, a shaft in t'ront ot' the plows and directly below the beams. a slidable connection between each end ot the shaft and the frame, springsI normally holding the shaft in its lowmmost position, au arm secured to each plow and extending forwardly below the shaft, each arm beine' spaced below the beam a distance corresponding to the diameter ot' the shaft. and yielding means for holding' the armsl in spaced relation.

A gang plow omprisin,, a -Frame, wheels for supporting the frame, means for raising and lowering the frame with renpect to the wheels. draft apparatus connected to the frame, a plurality of laterally spaced plow beams below the frame, each beam being pivoted to the tront ot the, t' 'ame at the front end of the beam, a plow at the rear end of each beam, a shaft arranged transversely of the plows in front ol the plows. a plate at each end ot' the shaft', eaeh plate beingr secured to the frame and having' a rertieal slot for the shaft', a Spring between eae'n end of the shaft and the upper end ol the slot, means for slidably connecting each plow to the shaft, and a spring,r on the shaft between cach adjacent pair ot said connecting' means.

it. A gang' plow f omprising a frame, wheels `Ior sui'iporting the frame, means for raising,Y and lowering the frame with respect to the wheels, drat't apparatus connected to tbe frame, a i'iluralit-y of laterally spaced plow beams below the frame, each beam beine' pivoted to the front of the Alrame at the liront end of the bealn, a plow at the rear end ot each beam, a shaft arranged tranarerseiy of the plows in front o't the plows` e aliding connection between each end ot the aliat't and the frame, yieldine; means: holdingl the shaft in lowermost position` means tor Aslidably connecting each plow to the allait., and yielding means for holdingt the said ifonnccting means in spaced relation.

gang plow comprising a supporting trame. a plurality ot' laterally spaced plow beams., a swinging connection between each otl the said beams and the supporting frame at the front ot the beam, a shaft supported below tbe vtrame and mounted to yield upwardly, said shat't being below the beams, each beam having an arm extending forwardly below the shaft, `and springson the shaft between the beams.

WM. ii. BOATRIGHT.

itll'lll'tlR E. MURPHY. V

Wit nesses:

.'l. (l. Vooiniiics, M. Snrrrano. 

